That’s tight security

Monday was the 9th anniversary of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, prompting extraordinarily tight security at the federal courthouse in Boise.

Federal Protective Service police officers openly displayed automatic weapons, as they have periodically throughout the trial. But to add to that, vehicles were being thoroughly searched. Officers used hand-held mirrors to examine the undercarriages of vehicles, and trunk lids were popped open. Inside the courthouse, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Fireams and Explosives used his specially trained black lab to check hallways and the courtroom. The tail-wagging dog waited with its handler in the hallway, then sniffed through the courtroom during each noon recess, before court in the morning and after the end of the day's business.

This comes after extensive remodeling at the courthouse building, which added to security features.

Posted April 21, 2004, 9:33 a.m.

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